Two Workers (a carpenter and a laborer) Electrocuted
in South Carolina

Introduction:

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Division of Safety
Research (DSR) is currently conducting the Fatal Accident Circumstances and Epidemiology
(FACE) Project, which is focusing primarily upon selected electrical-related and confined
space-related fatalities. The purpose of the FACE program is to identify and rank factors
that influence the risk of fatal injuries for selected employees.

On June 5, 1987, two workers (a carpenter and a laborer) were electrocuted and five
other workers seriously burned when scaffolding they were moving contacted a 13,750 volt
overhead powerline.

Contacts/Activities:

Officials of the Occupational Safety and Health Program for the State of South Carolina
notified DSR concerning this fatality and requested technical assistance. This case has
been included in the FACE Project. On June 23, 1987, a safety specialist met with the
owner of the company, county coroner, and local police officers. Photographs were taken of
the accident site, comparison workers, and a surrogate for one of the victims were also
interviewed.

Overview of Employer's Safety Program:

The victims were employed by a general contracting company that performs various types
of construction and employed nine full-time workers. The company has no written safety
policy or established safety program. Training for employees is provided on the job by
experienced workers and/or the owner. Safety concerning work-related tasks is viewed as
requiring common sense.

Synopsis of Events:

A crew of seven workers (carpenters and laborers) were performing various tasks at a
construction site located in a small shopping mall. One task, the erection of two single
stage tubular welded frame scaffolds, had been completed by several workers. Each section
of the scaffolding was four feet wide and seven feet long. The scaffolding consisted of
seven tiers, six tiers being 54 inches high and one tier 48 inches high for a total height
of 31 feet. The scaffolds were then positioned on one side of a 33 foot high sign that was
to be painted. The sign had been partially painted when the crew was instructed to move
the scaffolds away from the sign, so that concrete could be poured for an access road into
the mall. Both scaffolds remained assembled while they were moved approximately 30 feet
away from the sign. (The ground area where the scaffolds were moved to was uneven and
would later become saturated with rain water.) A 13,750 volt overhead power line was
located approximately ten feet from one of the scaffolds and 27 feet from ground level.

After the concrete for the access road had cured the crew was instructed to move the
scaffolds back to the sign to finish painting. The seven workers positioned themselves
around the scaffold and attempted to lift the scaffold onto the newly constructed concrete
access road, which was approximately 4-6 inches higher than ground level. As the workers
lifted the scaffold onto the roadway, the top section of scaffolding uplifted from the
adjoining section of scaffolding, (still remaining in contact with the other sections)
toppled over, and came into contact with the 13,750 volt powerline.

All seven workers were knocked away from the scaffolding by the electrical shock. A
carpenter and a laborer received fatal electrical burns while the remaining five workers
were hospitalized with electrical burns.

Cause of Death:

The cause of death for both workers was electrocution.

Recommendations/Discussion:

Recommendation #1: Scaffold should not be moved unless all safety hazards
have been identified and abated.

Discussion: Prior to moving or relocating an assembled scaffold
consideration should be given to such factors as: (1) height, (2) weight, (3) obstacles,
(4) wheels, and (5) ground/floor condition. Consideration of these factors may require
that the scaffold be dismantled. In this particular case a dismantled scaffold would have
been much more maneuverable and would have eliminated the potential hazard presented by
the power line.

Recommendation #2: Locking pins should be used to secure scaffolding panels
(tiers) to one another.

Discussion: Scaffolding panels (tiers) should be secured together
through the use of pins or other equivalent suitable means (Occupational Safety and Health
Administration regulation 1926.45(d)(6)).

Recommendation #3: The employer should develop and implement a written
safety program. This program should include safe work procedures and recognition of
hazards.

Discussion: The employer has no written safety program or policy.
Safety is currently dependent upon the common sense of the employees. A safety program
should include training of employees to recognize hazards in the workplace (i.e., hazards
associated with working in the vicinity of electrical powerlines).